This is mainly a compilation of the visits to various holy places that we have been to recently. This blog started as a result of my wish to document these visits and help other like minded people to reach there easily, prepare them with some information about the place so that the experience will be enriched .

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Vaikunta Vasa perumal Temple at Koyambedu

This is the twin temple seen along with the Shiva temple at KoyambeduIt is a much smaller temple compared to the Karungaleeshwaran temple ,Vaikundavasa Perumal is the presiding deity. The deity is installed in a standing posture along with his consorts sridevi and Bhoo devi. The temple is renowned for its beautiful images of Seetha and RamaThe main entrance of the temple features several beautiful Dashavataram images. The temple has separate shrines dedicated to Kanakavalli Thayar and Andal It is believed that the deity was worshipped by Sage Valmiki, Lava and Kusha. Unlike in other temples, where Vaikunda Perumal will be found in the sitting posture, the Moolavar idols of the Lord and His Consorts here are in the standing posture. The Utsavar is known as Azhagiasingar and there is an unconfirmed report that the Thelliyasingar deity in the Parthasarathy Temple at Thiruvallikeni, was kept here during the alien invasion . The Utsavar is found flanked on either side by Sridevi and Bhoodevi. The Utsavar images of the Goddess, Andal, Sudarsana, Azhwars, Vishwaksenar and Ramanuja are also worshipped here. The temple is famous for its beautiful images of Sita and Rama. While Rama is found wearing a dress made from tree bark and is without a crown as he was found when he spent 14 years in the forest, the image of Sita is like that of any ordinary woman with her hairdo in what is known as "Kodali Kondai" as she stayed in Valmiki's Ashram. The holy water source is called as the Kusa-Lava Theertham and the "sthala vriksham" is the pipal tree. There is an ancient manuscript of the Ramayana in Telugu letters and its title is Vaithya Ramayanam and it is well preserved. templeIn short a divine place where Sivan and Perumal are side by side associated with the Ramayana. It was supposedly the ashram of Valmiki where Rama came with seetha during vanavasam, Lava kusa grew up here and also Rama was re united with Seetha and Lava, Kusha here